Olusoji Fasuba
Africa’s
fastest man, Olusoji Fasuba, will have his record under threat when the
Samsung Diamond League starts in Doha on May 11 as Jamaica names former
world’s fastest man Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter in the team to
compete for honours at the event.
Fasuba,
surprised many athletics followers in 2006, when he broke Frankie
Fredericks’ record of 9.86 to set a new African record of 9.85 in Doha,
the fastest time in the competition. Fasuba is still well-known for his
gold medal feat at the 2008 World Indoor Championships 60 metres sprint,
clocking in a time of 6.51.
The closest finish to Fasuba’s Doha record was America’s Crawford Shawn who finished in 9.86 in 2004.
Powell,
the former World record holder before Usain Bolt stormed in the
athletics scene, ran 9.75 and 9.81 in Doha in 2010 but were aided by
excessive winds, thus not eligible as records. Powell has a career best
of 9.72 and Carter 9.78.
In
a battle that may likely be between Jamaica and the USA, the latter
named 2004 Olympic 100m gold medallist and recently crowned 60m World
Indoor champion Justin Gatlin to lead the U.S charge.
Walter
Dix, last year’s winner in the 200m and the Olympic bronze and World
silver medallist in both 100m and 200m, will be looking to retain his
200m reign in Doha. The American, who ran a wind assisted 9.85 in the
100m last weekend, has been training with legendary coach John Smith.
All four sprinters feel strong enough this season to be capable of dethroning Usain Bolt at the London 2012 Olympics.
No comments:
Post a Comment